At times there is an uncomfortable puffiness or tenderness in the jaw which makes even a simple task like chewing your favourite foods difficult. Such a condition is physically pretty uncomfortable but more than that it is a genuine cause for concern according to some of the most experienced dentists in London. Such a condition usually indicates presence of an underlying factor which requires immediate care and intervention of a qualified dental professional. There could be lots of factors behind it ranging from an issue related to your oral health, an injury sustained on the soft tissues or the underlying bone structures of the jaw or any other medical condition. It is crucial both uncovering the exact cause and providing the right treatment to it in order to get relieve from the discomfort and restoring normal functionality of the jaw.
In the following sections of this post let us explore some common causes, symptoms and effective treatments for the condition of swelling in the jaw. By the end of this post, it is expected it will be easier for you overcoming this troublesome condition.
Understanding the problem of a swollen jaw
The condition of a swollen jaw usually makes the area of your jaw appear and feel larger than it actually is. In addition to that the condition is painful especially when touched. There is also much tenderness in and around the area and as such moving the jaws comfortably could pose difficult. What causes this condition? There can be various reasons behind this condition of swollen jaw ranging from dental issues, an infection to physical health conditions and even trauma and injuries sustained on the affected region.
- When a dental condition is responsible for a swollen jaw usually it is a tooth abscess or an infection.
- If a medical condition is the underlying factor then it could some issue or the other related to the salivary glands.
- There is also the probability of an infection which affects your body.
- Even a trauma or injury sustained on the jaw area may lead to this kind of complexities and discomfort.
Problem of swollen jaw and its common causes
Swelling in the jaw may result from several causes and each cause is distinct from others. Taking the right action becomes lot easier when you understand the triggers. Here is a brief discussion on the matter.
- Dental issues
Swollen jaw may be a symptom of dental issues like a tooth abscess. A tooth or dental abscess is caused by bacteria and the symptoms that show up are tenderness, reddishness and swelling in the jaw area. Another dental condition to mention in this context is pericoronitis. It is an inflammation that occurs around partially erupted tooth or teeth and ca also result in swelling of the jaw.
- Viral infections
A common cause of swollen jaw is presence of the mumps virus. This infection particularly infects the salivary glands leading to pain and swelling around the jaw and the cheeks.
- Dental surgery
Asymmetrical swelling or swollen jaw on one side is a common symptom in cases involving dental surgeries. Usually the surgeries occur because of extraction of the wisdom teeth or placing dental implants into the gum bones. These patients require proper care and medications during the post surgical phase to overcome the swelling.
- Infection of the salivary gland
The jaws can swell up when there is an infection in the salivary gland, like parotitis. This condition is quite painful and results in tenderness as well. Patients also find difficult opening the mouth.
- TMJ dysfunction disorder
The jaw and the skull remains connected to each other through the temporomandibular joint or TMJ. TMJ dysfunction occurs because of the reasons like grinding or clenching of the teeth (or bruxism), misalignment of the joint and even arthritis. The symptoms include pain, swelling and limited movement of the jaw.
- Trauma
Injuries may be sustained on the jaw from accidents or trauma, contact sports activities and even dental procedures. Usually when your jaw receives an injury it results in pain and swelling. For patients who experience jaw trauma require immediate medical care and intervention explain dentists with years of experience in handling cases involving sudden swollen jaw on one side.
- Various other causes could also be responsible
In addition to the factors mentioned above, certain other causes could also be responsible behind swelling of your jaw like thyroid dysfunction, seasonal allergies, myofascial pain syndrome, gum infection (periodontotis) fibromyalgia and others.
Swollen jaw symptoms
Typical symptoms associated with the condition of swollen jaw include the following –
- Fully opening or closing the mouth proves difficult
- Pain and tenderness in the jaw especially while chewing or touching
- Experiencing puffiness or swelling in and around the jaw
- Presence of pus or drainage from the gum or an infected tooth
- These infections or inflammations are usually accompanied by fever, any disease or other systematic symptoms
Treatment options for swollen jaws
Several treatment options are there to deal with the problem of jaw swelling including the following –
- Courses of antibiotics medications
- Dental procedures like root canal, tooth extraction, periodontal treatments and others
- Pain management with help of pain relievers that are either available over the counter or are prescription medications
- Skilled and experienced dentists working at the renowned Emergency Dentists London Pro also recommend TMJ therapies and treatments for salivary glands in certain cases
Also read: https://articlefun.com/handle-a-dental-emergency-like-pro/
